tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82510055303295360392018-03-05T08:38:18.033-08:00Called To Serve- Portugal Lisbon MissionSister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-69641535244162359662012-05-30T10:15:00.001-07:002012-05-30T10:15:17.216-07:00family away from home<span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Hi!</span><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ah my heart is so full today! First of all I get on my little myldsmail account to read all of your wonderful emails and then BAM BAM BAM like 10 people got married, engaged and are preggo. Everyone better email me pictures! </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week was amazing. Yesterday Mohamed got baptized. <span> </span>Then Fransisco, the man from Angola I contacted on the street my first week here comes to church every week and agrees with everything the church stands for. He wants to be baptized but won’t commit to a date. We brought the zone leaders with us to an appointment and he accepted.<span> </span>But then on Sunday he said in sacrament meeting he wanted to wait. So we will continue to work with him. We also marked Flavio from Mozambique for baptism and he's going to fast all week to prepare for this baptism next weekend. I can barely fast one day! This man is truly a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. I love my area here in Porto, I love my companion, I love Lucia and her husband (who will get baptized one day), I love Vanessa and the cute little Brazilian couple Cassandra and Lindenburg, Silva and Irmão Carvalho. They all help us so much with the missionary work here. They are my family away from home. I swear I´m spoiled rotten here. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Today for p-day we are hanging out at our chapel playing basketball and writing letters and emails. I realized that Portugal doesn´t have Memorial Day. Today I am really missing my cousin Riky. He passed away November of 2010 and I think about him every day. I know he is in a better place now but I still catch my self wishing I could talk to him again. That's why I am so grateful for the Gospel. We can be with our families again after this life. The Lord's plan of Salvation is so clear and gives hope to each of us if we follow it and keep the Lord's commandments we can all be together for eternity.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span>Thank you all for writing me and not forgetting about me.<span> </span>I’m so proud of all of you and I miss you all each day. My missionary, little Jenn Woodward wrote this to me in her letter last week and I want to share it with you, "I feel like you start your mission and end it as a completely different person in many ways. It's like the scripture about turning yourself over to the Lord and He will take your heart away and give you a new one. That's how I feel with every person that I´ve met or taught, every ward/branch I’ve served in and every companion and city you give away a piece of your heart and you´ll never get that piece back....but in exchange you receive a new piece...it's not the same, it's different, it allows your heart to feel something it’s never felt, and it fits perfectly where the other piece was. But it's not at all the same. And this giving and receiving cycle goes on and on through out your whole mission...or life...and at the end you have a completely different heart. You experience a literal change of heart". I swear Jenn needs to write a book or something. She always has the perfect things to say. I can’t believe she ends her mission in Paris soon. This is happening to me. I'm experiencing that change of heart. When I leave Porto I will leave a part of my heart here. I'm excited for what is in store for me in the future and what the Lord has planned for me. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you all for being a part of my life. I love you.</span></div><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Beijinhos,</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irmã Nelson</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYiY3WlYNkQ/T8ZSWbepI_I/AAAAAAAAAT4/vAdImEbkJsA/s1600/654_8109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYiY3WlYNkQ/T8ZSWbepI_I/AAAAAAAAAT4/vAdImEbkJsA/s640/654_8109.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nbvu-emCKUE/T8ZSauwcSGI/AAAAAAAAAUA/5RvmmkU3Wp8/s1600/654_8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nbvu-emCKUE/T8ZSauwcSGI/AAAAAAAAAUA/5RvmmkU3Wp8/s640/654_8078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-70918693052065004862012-05-27T09:44:00.004-07:002012-05-27T09:44:33.895-07:005+ months down!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjbOuyLNQjs/T8JZfgkNmhI/AAAAAAAAATU/eCIhgUPkmFA/s1600/654_7978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjbOuyLNQjs/T8JZfgkNmhI/AAAAAAAAATU/eCIhgUPkmFA/s640/654_7978.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4e8s-RRE4kQ/T8JZogJq8aI/AAAAAAAAATc/k5pHra5f4Gg/s1600/DSC_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4e8s-RRE4kQ/T8JZogJq8aI/AAAAAAAAATc/k5pHra5f4Gg/s640/DSC_0919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CmJMCS8KL6Q/T8JZscrbGtI/AAAAAAAAATk/N9rvzrl74hI/s1600/DSC_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CmJMCS8KL6Q/T8JZscrbGtI/AAAAAAAAATk/N9rvzrl74hI/s640/DSC_1017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btnOyvlLw4c/T8JZwkqfQPI/AAAAAAAAATs/iX3_vWSG2bw/s1600/DSC_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btnOyvlLw4c/T8JZwkqfQPI/AAAAAAAAATs/iX3_vWSG2bw/s640/DSC_1078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Can you believe I´ve already been on my mission for five months&nbsp;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">and in Portugal for three? <span> </span>Some days I feel like I have lived here forever and others I feel like I just arrived. <br />Getting to Skype my family yesterday for Mother’s Day was so fun. Seeing your faces was exactly what I needed. You all know exactly what to say to make me feel better and carry on. I don´t know what I did to be so blessed to have such a great family. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><br />This week was really good. We have several investigators marked for baptism and I’m so stoked. Everyday I’m growing better in the language and in my knowledge of the Gospel. I know I will never be perfect </span><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">but I will never stop working hard and learning from my mistakes. If we truly pray for the Lord to help us He will prepare a way. The rain finally went away and now it’s really sunny and hot.<br />Really hot, but I love it. I’ll take heat over cold any day. I’m sorry my email won’t be very long today but know that I love all of you very much. I’m so happy to be here in Porto and to be serving another<br />transfer with my companion. She helps me so much. I love you all and miss you. Have an amazing week. You’re always in my prayers<br /><br />Irmã Nelson</span></div><br style="right: auto;" />Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-55542236467613633502012-05-27T09:28:00.002-07:002012-05-27T09:31:24.656-07:00Mother's Day Skype Session!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WznXvsB4YeE/T8JVteiJvNI/AAAAAAAAATI/TpSwdgODicE/s1600/mothers+day+2012_2.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WznXvsB4YeE/T8JVteiJvNI/AAAAAAAAATI/TpSwdgODicE/s640/mothers+day+2012_2.jpg.png" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rqanr2P5P6w/T8JVh4Ibw_I/AAAAAAAAASw/40_UXyjyg8g/s1600/mothers+day+2012_5.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rqanr2P5P6w/T8JVh4Ibw_I/AAAAAAAAASw/40_UXyjyg8g/s640/mothers+day+2012_5.jpg.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">AH SUCH GREAT EMAILS THIS WEEK! Time is seriously my biggest enemy. I don’t even have time to write in my journal! I try to play catch up but it’s so hard. <u></u><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">YESTERDAY WAS AMAZING! WE HAD FOUR BAPTISMS! This work is so inspired and the Lord has so many people prepared for this Gospel and I´m blessed enough to be the one here with them holding their hand. It was such a miracle. We have been working with this mother and her daughter since I arrived in Porto, named Olivia and Rosinda. Every week we would invite them to follow Christ’s example and be baptized. Olivia would say the same thing "não filha, não filha". <span> </span>They go to church every week with us and institute. <span> </span>Last Sunday Olivia FINALLY said yes. Her daughter was a little more hesitant. She finally prayed out loud with us for the first time in almost four months on Saturday night, asking Heaven Father if she should get baptized. It was one of those moments that fill your heart with so much joy. My favorite part of being a missionary is kneeling with an investigator hearing them pray out loud for the first time. I cry every time. These people are earnestly seeking the truth and are sincerely asking our Father in Heaven for an answer. So the next morning at church she ran up to us and told us she received an answer and wanted to get baptized with her mom that afternoon. Ah I love being a missionary. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Another miracle this week. We have been teaching this family who is from Mali, Africa for about three weeks now.<span> </span>They are the most humble people I have ever met. They just want to be happy and be together for eternity. The mom Miriam we met at church three weeks ago.<span> </span>A recent convert neighbor brought her to church. <span> </span>We began stopping by every afternoon to teach her and her two sons, Abdulaye (28) and Mohamed (20). <span> </span>Mohamed is Islam and was very against changing religions.<span> </span>He always listened but refused to pray with us and accept Christ as his Savior. But last week when we came over the first thing he said was "Sisters, I have good news. I prayed and I know the Church is true and I want to get baptized. It won’t be easy but it’s what God told me; along with my mom and brother.” <span> </span>On Thursday we went over to teach them and we were talking a little bit about being missionaries and why we leave our friends families and lives behind for 18-24 months. I was saying to him that we are here because we know the Gospel is true, we love our Savior and we’re here to find people like you and invite you to come unto Christ. I was saying that it’s not easy. It’s very hard but it is all worth it for the tender mercies and the little moments like him telling me that he had good news and wanted to be baptized. I went on to say that my mission is changing me and the people here.<span> </span>He stopped me and said "no, you are changing ME" and I of course we both started crying. <span> </span>This is why I’m here to see the Lord change these people. His mom and brother had both attended church once so they could be baptized on Sunday, but their father lives in France and they couldn’t get a hold of him to get his permission. Since he’s Muslim we needed to get consent. So only Abdulaye was baptized after church with Olivia and Rosinda. We went to dinner at a member’s house with people from the ward and the zone leaders called us and said that given the situation, President said she could be baptized without consent from her husband. <span> </span>We went back to the chapel, re- filled with font and had another baptism :) Mohamed will be baptized this next Sunday. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UviVKAUyKD4/T8JVrLfwhPI/AAAAAAAAATA/vzQyMjRIByc/s1600/654_8122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UviVKAUyKD4/T8JVrLfwhPI/AAAAAAAAATA/vzQyMjRIByc/s640/654_8122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I’m so grateful for this Gospel and miracles in my life. I know I was sent here for a purpose. It requires a lot of hard work, including my first two splits this week which was so intimidating teaching without Irmã Young with me, but the Lord puts the exact words in your mouth that the people need to hear. I’m so grateful for this Church and all of the tender mercies. You are all tender mercies in my life. I pray for you every day and I can always feel your prayers. Thank you all for everything. Congrats to everyone who graduated; Brandon, Sheree, Court! And all the engaged and preggos! I love you guys :)<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">xoxo<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irmã Nelson<u></u><u></u></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-47821908792956995862012-05-11T17:05:00.002-07:002012-05-11T17:05:30.906-07:00Bed Bugs and Baptism!<div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">To answer your question, yes I still have bed bug bites. They won’t go away. Irmã young wrapped me in Neosporin and gauze last night to keep me from scratching them.....it’s better than the cone of shame.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">LUCIA GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY! I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful baptism. She is my angel. Every hard day of my mission is worth it to see her make this covenant with our Heavenly Father. I was dying laughing because when she put on the baptismal clothes she started doing karate kicks and HIE-YAS all around the dressing room. I love my crazy Lucia. Then she ran around the lawn outside the chapel while we were taking pictures and wanted pictures with a basketball she found nearby. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard. She was baptized by this cute young Brazilian named Lindenburg.<span> </span>He and his wife are in our Ward.<span> </span>He has an adorable little wife named Preggo. We love them so much. She’s the one who started giving me a manicure during FHE a couple of weeks ago. We’re going to buy a white little dress today for their baby’s blessing. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">At the baptism I gave a talk on baptism and our Ward Mission Leader spoke on the Holy Ghost. It was so funny; Lucia’s feet went flying in the air when she went under the water so they had to do it again.<span> </span>She’s the cutest little thing.<span> </span>She weighs probably 80 pounds. I made chocolate chip cookies and the entire ward was obsessed with them and wants the recipe (And you thought I couldn’t cook). They call them "bolachas Americana’s." They don’t bake chocolate chip cookies here and chocolate chips don’t exist here either.&nbsp;<span>&nbsp; </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span>Lucia and her husband fed us after church.<span> </span>Her husband agreed to let us teach him one lesson if he could take us on a drive by the beach and the river. <span> </span>It was the most beautiful sight ever. I’m in love with Porto.<span> </span>Transfers are Monday and I hope I don’t get transferred.<span> </span>There are still so many people here I need to see baptized.<span> </span>We have some awesome new investigators that are so ready to be baptized.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span>Ah I love being a missionary. <span> </span>I was a little run down this week but our Ward Mission Leader Irma Carvalho gave me a blessing and I’m feeling so much better. I have a strong testimony of the power of the Priesthood. We need to take advantage of it more often and all worthy Priesthood holders should use this amazing power more often as well to bless the lives of those around them.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span>I’m so sad the senior couple here, the McConkies, are leaving tomorrow. <span> </span>They were my family when I first arrived in my area. They are such amazing people and I will miss them so much.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I received an unexpected package of letters from the Tempe University 4th Ward this week.<span> </span>It was so randomly perfect. <span> </span>Thank you so much. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">SHOUT OUT TO KATIE SCERRA! Love you chica!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKONTckp0X0/T62lSZ7U3EI/AAAAAAAAARs/XRX5l3OnibU/s1600/654_7913(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKONTckp0X0/T62lSZ7U3EI/AAAAAAAAARs/XRX5l3OnibU/s640/654_7913(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqhLWPydy0c/T62lT6KZwPI/AAAAAAAAAR0/XbrI5MgrIps/s1600/654_7921(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqhLWPydy0c/T62lT6KZwPI/AAAAAAAAAR0/XbrI5MgrIps/s640/654_7921(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3f6Dnr3p1k/T62lV7NCw1I/AAAAAAAAAR8/8RRs4jYTDCc/s1600/654_7940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3f6Dnr3p1k/T62lV7NCw1I/AAAAAAAAAR8/8RRs4jYTDCc/s640/654_7940.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xnu37H6p2X4/T62lY1GlhbI/AAAAAAAAASE/vLY_JoAsREI/s1600/654_7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xnu37H6p2X4/T62lY1GlhbI/AAAAAAAAASE/vLY_JoAsREI/s640/654_7967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWYJCQ4bGj8/T62lcWOa-QI/AAAAAAAAASM/JEz11yRqt04/s1600/DSC_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWYJCQ4bGj8/T62lcWOa-QI/AAAAAAAAASM/JEz11yRqt04/s640/DSC_0976.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MrfpAl_52NY/T62lgePzROI/AAAAAAAAASU/fFg-Y9hsEwg/s1600/654_7974(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MrfpAl_52NY/T62lgePzROI/AAAAAAAAASU/fFg-Y9hsEwg/s640/654_7974(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6KuRGRqLNE/T62lihhu4GI/AAAAAAAAASc/gMrzUdvhhJY/s1600/DSC_0982(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6KuRGRqLNE/T62lihhu4GI/AAAAAAAAASc/gMrzUdvhhJY/s640/DSC_0982(1).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This Church is so true. I know it with all my heart. My testimony gets stronger each day. I’m so honored to be doing the Lord’s work here in Portugal. Thank you for all your letters and prayers.<span> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I love you</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irmã Nelson</span></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-79450149947706171202012-05-11T17:05:00.001-07:002012-05-11T17:05:03.168-07:00Chuva Chuva Chuva!<span style="color: #1f497d;">C</span><span>huva </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">C</span><span>huva </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">C</span><span>huva!</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="background: white;">&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">B</span><span>om dia! </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> W</span><span>el</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">l</span><span> today is another rainy day in Porto. It</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">’</span><span>s been raining non</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">-</span><span>stop all month</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span><span> I started putting all my warm weather clothing in my suitcases then had to take it all out and wear it because it’s been cold and rainy all month</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span><span> But May is going to be so beautiful. They have the prettiest trees and flowers. There is an area here called Gondomar where we have some investigators and it’s honestly so gorgeous and green and full of vineyards and </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">has </span><span>a pretty view of the city. </span><span>All the rain is making everything neon green</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">. I</span><span> love it.&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span><span>I was little sad last night because Augusta wasn´t baptized. Her son took her out of town and wouldn</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">’</span><span>t give us their number or address. So we weren´t able to baptize her, but as soon as she comes back we will baptize her right away. She has such a desire to be baptized and knows that this </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">C</span><span>hurch is true. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> love my little old </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">A</span><span>ugusta. I know the Lord has plans for her</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">. </span><span> She truly is so special.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="background: white;"><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">O</span><span>ur investigators and recent converts are always feeding us</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span><span> They are such humble giving people and are following Christ’s example. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> I</span><span> love my </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">W</span><span>ard here so much. They are so involved and all want to be missionaries. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> T</span><span>he ward missionaries have been helping so much this week going out on lessons with us.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span>I</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">’m</span><span> sorry my email is so short but you guys know how it goes</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">M</span><span>y bed bug bites still haven’t gone away yet so </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> look like</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> I</span><span>i have chicken pox or some weird disease but whatever</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">,</span><span> who am </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> try</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">i</span><span>ng to impress</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span><span> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> I’m</span><span> getting better at street contacting</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.&nbsp; </span><span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span>F</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">our</span><span> people this week on the street asked if </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> was </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">P</span><span>ortuguese</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">. T</span><span>hey told me </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> have an amazing accent</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">. This is the best</span><span> compliments ever</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span><span> I´m still working on understanding every little word but it will come with time. I</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">’</span><span>m actually leading the lessons now and do pretty well on the phone</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">&nbsp; Well</span><span></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I have to go. </span><span> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">We’re</span><span> taking our recent convert </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">V</span><span>anessa to find long skirts for </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">C</span><span>hurch</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">. </span><span>Her new calling is </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">so</span><span> perfect for her. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">S</span><span>he</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">’</span><span>s so excited and </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> couldn´t be more proud of her.&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">M</span><span>om</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">,</span><span> she loves the CTR ring :)</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> P</span><span>lease remember how much </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I</span><span> love and miss all of you. Please continue to pray and thank our Heavenly Father for all the blessings He has given us. </span></div><div style="background: white;"><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span>I love being a missionary. I know this </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">C</span><span>hurch is true with all my heart and </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I </span><span>am so </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">blessed</span><span> to be </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">H</span><span>is servant here in</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> P</span><span>ortugal. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">F</span><span>ica </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">B</span><span>em! B</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">eijinhos</span><span>! </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">A</span><span>mo Vocês!!</span></div><div style="background: white;"><span></span>&nbsp;</div><div style="background: white;"><span>IRMÃ NELSON</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-4938268945385570692012-05-11T17:01:00.000-07:002012-05-11T17:01:16.712-07:00the work is marvelous<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HELLO!!!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I´m sorry I didn´t write yesterday we had zone conference and interviews with President Torgan! Honestly President Torgan is one of the most amazing men I know. (next to my daddy of course) He is so close to the spirit and constantly telling us that nothing is possible without faith in the Lord. Reading Ether 12 &amp;chapter 9 in preach my gospel has become a daily thing for me. I’m so obsessed with the scriptures and Preach My Gospel it’s not even funny. They have answers to EVERYTHING. PMG is not just for missionaries. EVERYONE should be reading this book. Please use this book along with your scriptures and it with amplify your study and help you serve others. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THIS WEEKEND WILL BE MY FIRST BAPTISM! she is seriously the CUTEST little thing you have ever seen. Her name is Augusta and she about 4.5 feet tall and is 78 years old.&nbsp; She lives alone and the first day we met her she asked us to live in her big house with her. She always calls us her maninas (girls) and she basically contacted us! We were waiting at the bus paragem (stop) last week asked about the book in our hands and our names tags. Ever since we have been teaching her (she was stanch catholic so she’s still trying to understand everything she still thinks we need a papa (pope) but we explained that a prophet is called of God and not elected by the people like the pope. She has already come with us to sacrament once, a church relief society activity and President Torgan gave a fireside in our stake on Sunday and we brought her to that. After the activity on Friday we asked her if she would be baptized next Sunday and she said yes! she always carries the book of Mormon in her purse and read all the pamphlets we gave her before she goes to bed. she always likes to walk with her arm linked with mine and told me she has a facebook! I’m obsessed with her! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">last Sunday we ate with Lucia’s family. She is such an amazing person and has so much love for others. We´re helping her prepare for baptism she’s so close! I love her very much. the bed bug problem is getting better since we don’t have a washing machine the sister in our ward took all our linens etc to be washed. the bites are slowly going away. and I haven’t found any new ones.... yet. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every time I think if the bed bugs I think of jay on his mission when he told me that they’re clever &amp; crawl up the wall to the ceiling and fall back onto the bed.&nbsp; weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! stupid little guys stop biting me. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">today we only get 3 hours instead of a regular pday so I apologize for not writing much. this work is so hard but I’ve never been happier in my entire life. you care SO much about your investigators that you begin to forget about yourself. but that’s what we learn in the scriptures if we lose ourselves in the service of others we find ourselves. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love you all so much it hurts.&nbsp;I can’t thank our Heavenly Father enough for all of you. I don’t know what I did to have such an amazing family and friends. thank you for&nbsp; everything you do and your prayers I feel them every day. I also thank him for the amazing companion I have. She teaches me so much everyday and helps me to keep focused on my purpose. This Work really is marvelous. I couldn’t be more lucky to be serving in this beautiful country. At times it doesn’t even feel like work but if were not working were not doing our job. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are on the Lords errand and I only get 18 months to serve. Thank you for all of your examples I love you so much.<br />xoxo-<br />Irma</span>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-84381343037335729672012-04-11T17:18:00.001-07:002012-04-11T17:19:37.643-07:00BOA PÁSCOA!<span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">BOA PÁSCOA!</span></span><br /><div dir="ltr"></div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">I hope you all had an amazing Easter! I missed all of you very much. This week was a good week. Remember Adelberto? He was our golden contact we found my first week here but his phone was disconnected. Well we found him this week and marked him for baptism but then his phone was shut off again. He told us things in his life are so hard right now that he couldn’t pay his phone bill. He wants to be baptized so badly but Satan is working so hard to keep him from it. I will keep you updated on him.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">We´ve been working with Vanessa this week and she seriously has the strongest testimony. She truly is my miracle here in Porto. She’s not just a recent convert but also a best friend. I’m going to visit her after my mission when she moves back to Mozambique. She’s always cooking for us and coming with us to teach. I thank my Heavenly Father for her every day. Yesterday for Páscoa (Easter) we had our fast and testimony meeting and then ate at Vanessa’s. She made us lamb. It was the first time I had ever eaten lamb and I loved it. Everything she cooks is amazing. </span></span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w8YSjso7DIc/T4YeYRxM2tI/AAAAAAAAARk/QMtWvrZMz6k/s1600/DSC_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w8YSjso7DIc/T4YeYRxM2tI/AAAAAAAAARk/QMtWvrZMz6k/s640/DSC_0777.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;">I’m sorry my email is short again this week. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;">There is never enough time but remember how much I love each of you and that this Gospel is true. We need this Gospel in order to return to our Heavenly Father. It’s so important I might just send missionaries to all of your homes, so watch out. Well at least be nice to them and give them some food.</span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">Have a good week everyone and remember to always have charity and love in your hearts for others.</span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: small;">xoxo<br />Irmã Nelson</span></span></div></div></div></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-26309339380455005312012-04-06T08:24:00.000-07:002012-04-06T08:24:22.771-07:00General Conference and Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6QZNhrL0838/T38JG_SaFgI/AAAAAAAAARM/rIkYD5YGX7w/s1600/DSC_0873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6QZNhrL0838/T38JG_SaFgI/AAAAAAAAARM/rIkYD5YGX7w/s640/DSC_0873.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSFuJm45Cqk/T38JMXX_ieI/AAAAAAAAARU/II-3nMjYI2o/s1600/DSC_0871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSFuJm45Cqk/T38JMXX_ieI/AAAAAAAAARU/II-3nMjYI2o/s640/DSC_0871.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m so sorry but this week is going to be a little short! HAPPY ALMOST EASTER (pascoa in Portuguese)! AH GENERAL CONFERENCE! ~I was only able to watch one and a half sessions but I loved every minute. Our Prophet and Apostles truly are men called of God and every message is so divinely inspired. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My new companion is amazing! Irmã Young is a small town cowgirl from Delta, Utah and has taught me so much. She gives me hope that I will one day be fluent in Portuguese! It was fun to see a lot of the missionaries from our zone at conference and watch their baptisms. I always get teary eyed watching new converts come up out of the water cleansed through both baptism of water and fire. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><em><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Hearing the </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">choir sing "Come Thou Fount" of course made me have he biggest pit in my stomach thinking of my farewell and missing each of you so much. I can’t believe that 6 months ago I was watching conference surrounded my family and friends at the ranch. I love each of you more than I can say. Remember how much the Lord loves you and that you are NEVER alone. </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5.25pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Com amor</span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-73918089437505578962012-04-06T08:14:00.002-07:002012-04-06T08:26:34.833-07:00End of First Transfer!<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have officially ended my first transfer and Irmã Dos Santos is gone. :( My new companion is Irmã Young. She was in Maderia (an island in our mission) so she won’t get here for another hour or so. I´m so excited to meet her. She is American and I saw a photo of her and that’s all I know. Today has been crazy. All morning we cleaned and organized our apt because my companion had a ton of organizing to do. Then Irmã Palmer (she’s so awesome, we arrived in Portugal the same day) who came here from Viseu (another area about 2 hours away from here) and wanted to hang with me until our companions show up. It’s been fun but a ton of getting lost and running around.<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SARA WADDELLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIMA PERU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot express how excited I am for you! Missions are amazing and you will change so many lives. You have such a powerful testimony. I must have received at least seven emails about your call. Everyone is so proud of you. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General Conference is this weekend. I´m so excited. They told us that they will have it in English and because of the time difference we will watch the 1st Saturday session at 5 pm on Saturday, the the 2nd Saturday session at 1pm on Sunday, the Sunday session at 5 pm and the last session at 9 pm. They announced our new Mission President. He is from America. It’s definitely a bittersweet thing. I love President and Irmá Torgan...especially when they try to speak English. Hehehe so cute.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found a lady when we were contacting this week named Paula. Honestly one of my favorite people I´ve met thus far. She was worked with many of the past sister missionaries here in Porto and was almost baptized. But when the sisters left it didn’t happen. Thursday we found her! We’re pretty much obsessed with each other and she can speak a little English. I feel the strongest spirit around her. She brought out this bag with her scriptures, manuals and all her church stuff all delicately covered with pretty paper as covers. She wants to get baptized but she said right now her heart is closed. She feels so alone in her life right now and I tried to explain to her that this is the best time to let the Lord into her life. We´ve only talked to her once but I’m so excited to see her again. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alright I’m all out of time but I love all of you so much! Honestly, the best emails this week. Thank you all! I’m sorry I never get enough time. I love you all.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><u></u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><u></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mIxVhNCsaA/T38IP-FlynI/AAAAAAAAARE/PCN3XJomna0/s1600/DSC_0826-4(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mIxVhNCsaA/T38IP-FlynI/AAAAAAAAARE/PCN3XJomna0/s640/DSC_0826-4(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">xoxo irmã~<u></u><u></u></span></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-41455794340293022802012-03-21T12:21:00.000-07:002012-03-21T12:21:22.363-07:00beijinhos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sa-NzAm5rJc/T2opic0pyyI/AAAAAAAAAQk/M8u8DBIBpSU/s1600/DSC_0776(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sa-NzAm5rJc/T2opic0pyyI/AAAAAAAAAQk/M8u8DBIBpSU/s640/DSC_0776(2).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_igID34GT0/T2opmSr3RqI/AAAAAAAAAQs/4e74DwwTxw0/s1600/DSC_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_igID34GT0/T2opmSr3RqI/AAAAAAAAAQs/4e74DwwTxw0/s640/DSC_0780.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0jqke2kaCXE/T2opqyizuYI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/dFi3Um85PvQ/s1600/DSC_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0jqke2kaCXE/T2opqyizuYI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/dFi3Um85PvQ/s640/DSC_0781.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIui60LEkx8/T2opu7NlHzI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/V5QfFQOfAMk/s1600/DSC_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIui60LEkx8/T2opu7NlHzI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/V5QfFQOfAMk/s640/DSC_0840.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BOA TARDE!!!<br />Ah today has been so great. And getting on email and seeing your emails makes me giddy. Seriously everyone stares at me in the internet cafe because I’m grinning and giggling with my face two inches from the computer screen. <span> </span>No kidding. <span> </span>Well the creepy guy with dreads next to me is into it...anyway thank you for all the updates! I can’t stop apologizing for the lack of responses to emails. They are so long and full of awesome detail that I would need an entire week to write what I would actually like to write back. BUT I need to clarify real quickly. When I sent my address I wrote it wrong and just now caught it.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s Ornelas not Omelas.....but I’ve still been getting everything! The mailman must know that I just don´t know how to read.<br /><br />This week we found Francisco, a single father from Angola and he brought his daughter to church yesterday and calls us his angels! Hopefully everything turns out okay! </span><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />Okay so yesterday we ate at our Bishop’s house after church it was really good and they are all about manners. <span> </span>They all eat with a fork and a knife here and it’s rude to just use a fork. You have to use<br />your knife to scoop your food onto the fork. It’s very hard for me. They totally knew I had no idea what I was doing cause I was just holding the knife pretending to use it. And when you want more food you like place your silverware a certain way and when you’re done you put them pointing to the left and parallel? News to me. Vanessa started fighting with me because she said these are universal manners and people in America do it too....um I’m from America and I’ve never see anyone do this. She was like then how to people know you’re done eating? And I was like idk you say you’re done and stop eating? And she was like NOOOOOOO. And I was like YESSSSSSS. Am I the only person<br />in the world that didn’t know this?! Whatever, she’s never been to America. When I come back I’m not using a knife.<br /><br />In other news I have an addiction to pastel de natas. Google them. I have like two a day. Irma Dos Santos says I have a problem.... I say I’m only in Portugal once. Works for me.<br /><br />Our ward is taking a Temple trip next month to Madrid and every time some one talks about it I die a little inside. I want to go so BAD. You have no idea how much I miss the Temple. I can´t wait to be able to go again. I haven’t heard any updates on the Temple in Lisboa. But its already my favorite in the world...next to Mesa and Oakland.<br /><br />GENERAL CONFERENCE is SO SOON! I´m dying I´m so excited. I miss watching it being surrounded by my family and friends eating a massive breakfast in our pj´s.<span> </span>But no matter where you are watching<br />conference, the message is the same. I invite EVERYONE members and non members to watch. <br />They will be broadcasting it in the chapel here and in the garage they will have it in English! I’m actually excited cause the senior couple is making food and there are couches in the garage :) score.<br /><br />Finally.... I´ve been impressed to tell all of you about being a missionary. Missionary work is nearly impossible with out help from the members. References and having members present makes all the<br />difference in conversion. I challenge all of you to be missionaries. Talk to everyone you know about the Gospel. NEVER be ashamed of your faith. Yes we can be shy sometimes but we need to understand this Gospel is MANDITORY for EVERY soul. And if we don’t share it with others His Kingdom won’t grow. It we want to be with our families forever we need to do all that we can to share the Gospel. And it all starts with being an example. When you live your life worthy of the<br />Holy Ghost people will feel it and it will spread and your light will shine. Others will see that light and want to be a part of it. Be friends with the missionaries in your area.<span> </span>Form strong relationships<br />and introduce them to you´re friends. I love you all and because I love you I want all of us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.<br /><br />Please have a good week :)<br />beijinhos (kisses)<br />Irmã Nelson</span></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-32238174680249424782012-03-15T08:31:00.000-07:002012-03-15T08:31:37.912-07:00Pretty Porto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1KVKFhSsiM/T2IIlGxntAI/AAAAAAAAAQE/JhqGQrBrR8k/s1600/DSC_0860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1KVKFhSsiM/T2IIlGxntAI/AAAAAAAAAQE/JhqGQrBrR8k/s640/DSC_0860.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fNeN34uIypg/T2IIm18g89I/AAAAAAAAAQM/gEyz3r_m_gk/s1600/DSC_0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fNeN34uIypg/T2IIm18g89I/AAAAAAAAAQM/gEyz3r_m_gk/s640/DSC_0826.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHNZl9J-UQU/T2IIqIxpuDI/AAAAAAAAAQU/kBf1b3lXm5w/s1600/NMS_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHNZl9J-UQU/T2IIqIxpuDI/AAAAAAAAAQU/kBf1b3lXm5w/s640/NMS_0815.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jhO3-W3dos/T2IItUeD7zI/AAAAAAAAAQc/d-osjifyRAM/s1600/DSC_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jhO3-W3dos/T2IItUeD7zI/AAAAAAAAAQc/d-osjifyRAM/s640/DSC_0820.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">HELLO!!!<u></u><u></u><u></u></span><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for your emails, honestly they make <span> </span>my entire week.<span> </span>This week was a better week for teaching.<span> </span><span> </span>We had a zone meeting on Wednesday to talk about what we could improve in our zone. <span> </span>I could actually kind of understand. <span> </span>So I think I’m getting there with the language.<span> </span><span> </span>I see you got my pictures.<span> </span><span> </span>Right after emailing last week we went over to that bridge and it was the most breath taking view I have ever seen.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We didn´t have a lot of time (we never have enough time; people who have served missions know exactly what I’m talking about). <span> </span>I wish so bad that I could write individual emails back to all of you and say what I really want to say and go into detail but never have the time.<span> </span>But we will all just have to talk for a really long time when I get back :) </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week I received an email from Dene, Paris and Jenny.<span> </span><span> </span>I died I was so happy! <span> </span>I need more stamps so I can respond to your letters.<span> </span><span> </span>But finding stamps here to the US is nearly impossible. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week we helped several people move.<span> </span>One was this adorable lady named Giselle from Germany. <span> </span>She has lived in Portugal for 27 years teaching ballet and has two sons.<span> </span>One is a member and one is not. We are trying to help the one son to accept the Gospel. We also taught one of our recent converts Vanessa a few times. She’s adorable and from Mozambique and has the whole Rihanna thing going on.<span> </span>We´ve also been helping her move. <span> </span>During one of our visits she said she came across a ton of anti-Mormon videos and websites that started to make her doubt her faith. It’s heartbreaking to see what people have to say out there about our religion.<span> </span>It’s Satan working so hard on us to deny what we know is true.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I know without a doubt in my mind and heart that this Church it true. The Spirit has born testimony to me so strong of the truth of these things. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.<span> </span>Every time I watch the restoration video (I nearly have it memorized in Portuguese), I know that he saw God the Father and His Beloved Son. Sharing this gospel is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I can´t wait for the day when I´m finally fluent in the language and can <span> </span>really make a difference in the lives of the people here.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I´m sorry my letter is so short this week, but the most important thing is that you all know my testimony and I invite all of you to thank your Heavenly Father for all of the many blessings in your lives. He loves each of you so much and<span> </span>knows each of you individually.<span> </span>Thank you all so much for everything. <span> </span>I’m sorry I don’t have time to answer all of your questions but know that I’m perfectly happy, working hard and seeing miracles. And that I love each one of you. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">You´re always in my prayers...<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">-Irmã Nelson<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Oh, this week we found a McDonalds by our house. It’s seriously the most glam place I’ve ever seen. They are so nice in Europe it’s insane. They even have different food, nice couches and super dressy outfits! ( McD´s in the USA needs to take a tip or two from these people) and we may or may not have eaten there twice.....don´t judge me <u></u><u></u></span></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-88227022921181402442012-03-06T15:42:00.000-08:002012-03-06T15:42:01.774-08:00Pics from Portugal!<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AU9Djdz0FR0/T1acSrZulhI/AAAAAAAAAO0/2rqvKAcGkOE/s1600/DSC_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AU9Djdz0FR0/T1acSrZulhI/AAAAAAAAAO0/2rqvKAcGkOE/s640/DSC_0610.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z5kjMr8xM4/T1aci5G0tBI/AAAAAAAAAPM/KZU28STdzc8/s1600/DSC_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z5kjMr8xM4/T1aci5G0tBI/AAAAAAAAAPM/KZU28STdzc8/s640/DSC_0660.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presidente and Irmã Torgan</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7773cyxjg9g/T1acm4lv93I/AAAAAAAAAPU/l7mKnM64X_I/s1600/DSC_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7773cyxjg9g/T1acm4lv93I/AAAAAAAAAPU/l7mKnM64X_I/s640/DSC_0695.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgn23CxkTZk/T1acrCpSYMI/AAAAAAAAAPc/HRR7FAHgOls/s1600/DSC_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgn23CxkTZk/T1acrCpSYMI/AAAAAAAAAPc/HRR7FAHgOls/s640/DSC_0785.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first companion- Irmã&nbsp; Dos Santos</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TEDGvMNU7s/T1ac3BnhxKI/AAAAAAAAAP8/YnN0InM1U1k/s1600/DSC_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TEDGvMNU7s/T1ac3BnhxKI/AAAAAAAAAP8/YnN0InM1U1k/s640/DSC_0685.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RokrCLultxk/T1actKmQXgI/AAAAAAAAAPk/SJzWQ3AZejg/s1600/DSC_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RokrCLultxk/T1actKmQXgI/AAAAAAAAAPk/SJzWQ3AZejg/s640/DSC_0774.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porto's church building</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BOM DIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u><u></u></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love all of your emails. They seriously make me miss all of you so much. Thank you for remembering me.<span> </span>Okay we are really limited on time today but I will fill you in on our week. </span><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The language is still hard but I´m beginning to understand a little better. <span> </span>Everyday with the Lord's help I will continue to learn more and more. Some days are hard and I think to myself that I will never become fluent in the language but then I remember all of your encouraging words and I feel much better. <span> </span>I absolutely love being a missionary and in time I will learn everything I need to know. <span> </span><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last pday was awesome after I finished writing you guys. my comp and I walked <span style="color: black;">around Mercado do Bolhão</span>. It’s really pretty.<span></span>We went in to a huge Catholic cathedral and the people inside stared at us because of course they know who we are. My companion let me go into Zara and I found a killer skirt for $5. <span> </span>I was pretty happy about that.<span></span>Then we went to this store called Continente which is like Wal-Mart Super Store plus Target. So big and overwhelming.<span></span>I finally saw the dried cod situation. <span> </span>So bizarre. So much fish. <span> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bus drivers (motoristas) here are so glam. They wear massive trendy shades and have Euro hawk haircuts. One had really long hair with a plastic headband. So funny. <span> </span>They never smile, they´re just too cool.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were a little sad this week, several of our appointments fell through. We have people that we pray for each week that we want to be baptized called Revelados.<span></span>We had a couple (Annabel and Manuel) and their daughter who have been in church the last two Sundays.<span></span>We stopped by their house everyday and some times twice a day and they were never home (I felt like such a stalker, but my comp and district leader told us to do it).<span></span>We called them over and over and they wouldn’t answer.<span></span>A sister in our ward sent us to her (Claudia) granddaughters house and we get to the door and her little boy answers the door.<span></span>Then Annabel comes to the door and Claudia comes to the door and screams at us to go away and slammed the door in our face.<span></span>I was so sad.<span></span>Then it started raining and the bus stop was a mile away. <span> </span>It was a great time. But we just calmed down and ended up laughing about it while we walked in the rain. Adelberto didn’t come to church this week so we have to push his baptism date back another week. Hopefully he is still doing well.<span></span>We haven’t heard from him in two days.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I have got to go. <span></span>Thank you all for everything. I´m so grateful for this Gospel and my opportunity to serve. This mission is teaching me so much and I´m having so much fun learning a new culture. The work is so amazing and it is such an honor to teach about God and His beloved Son everyday. I know this Church is true with all of my heart.</span> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I miss you all.~</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">xoxo</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">irmã nelson</span></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ9iHJp88H0/T1acvnGmGQI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Fy7tmpBLD-c/s1600/DSC_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ9iHJp88H0/T1acvnGmGQI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Fy7tmpBLD-c/s400/DSC_0778.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-89048670106959841632012-03-01T18:51:00.000-08:002012-03-01T18:51:48.758-08:00Bom Dia!!<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">BOM DIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<u></u><u></u><u></u></span><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">HOW IS EVERYONE?!<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">So much has happened this week. Thank you everyone for your sweet emails they are so encouraging! </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">So to answer some questions, my health is good I can walk for hours and it doesn´t bother me a bit. These boots may ware out soon but I guess that’s part of being a missionary.<span> </span>It´s still pretty hard to communicate with my companion, it really is like a guessing game and charades. <span> </span>But my companion had a quote in the MTC on a magnet she loved.<span> </span>It said that "life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We met a man named <span> </span>Isaque from Brazil the other day on the rua (street) and taught him a couple of days later in a park. While my companion was teaching the 1st lesson and I tried acting like I knew that she was saying a pigeon pooped all over her. It was so sad but she wiped it of her face (it was everywhere in her mail, on her face, on her clothes) (I hate pigeons btw) and kept on teaching. She really is such an example to me as a missionary. She’s a great teacher and so obedient. One day we will communicate really well. </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Some of the things I love about Porto; obviously the people here worship soccer (futebol) and the stadium here like owns the cardinals stadium.<span> </span>When a game is one no one is out on the streets and they’re all completely focused on TVs inside restaurants cafes and bars.<span> </span>It’s hilarious. But also makes proselyting a little tricky. Another thing I love here is obviously the bread and all the building have these beautiful wall tiles. I want them on my future house.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span>One night as we were heading home we met a man named Adelberto. We have taught him two times now and he already wants to be baptized.<span> </span>We´ve set a date for the 10 of March and we threw a little birthday party for him (we couldn’t actually stay) at the center for jovens (youths), he was turning 22.<span> </span>The youth center is under our chapel.<span> </span>It is for LDS and non LDS people 18-30 to hang out, etc. and a senior couple serves and cooks them food on Fridays and Saturdays.<span> </span>They have a ton of jovens. <span> </span>He was awesome and will be the first person that I street contacted and hopefully gets baptized.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday at Sacrament Meeting the Bishop had me share my testimony with the Ward in Portuguese and everyone came up to me after and told me I spoke really well. But I still can´t understand anyone. <span> </span>But I’m getting there. I love our little English Gospel Essentials class. Elder McConkie taught us and he is so knowledgeable about the Gospel. Oh and I was informed at church by the Bishops wife that she will be helping me learn the Porto accent.<span> </span>She said that in Porto it is rude to use voce and tu (their forms of you). <span> </span>So basically I have to start all over again. I have to use senhor and senhora always. They are extremely formal here and their accent is nearly impossible to master. So that’s going to be fun.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Well, I’m all out of time but I love you all. I’m so glad to hear Jami Pond and Richard Cunningham are home and well and that Darien’s baby is perfect. Courtney filled me in on all the celeb gossip and mom always updates me on Mitt Romney. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you all for your prayers--<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week in the scriptures I read section 31 of the D&amp;C and put my name in instead of Thomas Marsh and it brought me so much comfort. I`m also reading in the Gospels right now in the book of Luke. <span> </span>I love reading about the life of our Savior. He was so selfless and leads by example always. I’m so grateful for Him and His atoning sacrifice. He loves all of us so much. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH and you´re always in my prayers<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">xoxo<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irmã Nelson<u></u><u></u></span></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-68311263856505159852012-02-24T21:19:00.001-08:002012-02-24T21:21:57.969-08:00Reporting from Porto!<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I have no idea where to start so I will just start from the day I left the MTC. We left Tuesday around noonish for the airport after I finished packing my extremely over weight suitcases and mailed nine boxes of stuff from the MTC. Seeing mom and dad at the airport was wonderful. I love them so much. The PMGs are perfect! It was funny because there were so many of us on our flight. It was hard because they played three of my favorite movies on the plane but I read my scriptures and slept instead.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We had a long trek from one side of the Paris airport to the other to our flight so I started talking to people. I met this cute couple from Canada that was going to vacation in the Algarves. Apparently it’s super glam down there. The guy is like, oh I have an article to show you and it’s about why people shouldn’t trust Mormons from some Canadian magazine. We were like uhhhhh you can trust us! Then we met a cute French girl and gave her a pass-along card as well.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">On our flight to Lisboa I sat next to a Portuguese couple with a cute baby and out of nowhere the lady starts breastfeeding in the open and doesn’t cover herself so I get really uncomfortable and pretend to sleep for the rest of the flight. We landed and it was the coolest view of Lisboa. When we got there 15 bags in our group were lost but not mine thankfully.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I met President Torgan and Irma Torgan. I love them! We got to the mission office and he gave us our assignments. I am assigned to Porto!! We have the cutest chapel ever, I’ll send pictures next week. So then after we get our calls we had the best dinner I’ve ever had. Then we had a testimony meeting where I fell asleep. After the testimony meeting we went to bed. Sister Gourley, Sister Walton and I slept in one giant bed because we are clingy and it was our last night together.&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We all woke up at 4am because of jetlag. We had another really good meal for breakfast. We went to the mission office for orientations and I met my new comp. Okay so....she doesn’t speak one word of English. She is from Brazil and finishes her mission in 5 weeks so I will get trained by someone else who doesn’t know our area. When she leaves I will have to show my new trainer the area and introduce her to the members and investigators. Scary. So after we had all our meetings we were off. And because of my ginormous suitcases and the box that mom sent to the mission home it was tricky getting everything to Porto from Lisboa. So they piled like 10 of us in a van and we drove to the train station. We took a three hour train ride to Porto, then a metro, then a bus and up a giant hill to our apt.&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Our apt is on the top floor so that was fun getting all of it up the stairs. Our apt is big but old and there’s no light in the kitchen, no washing machine (so a member in our ward does our laundry) and very little warm water for showers. The apt is freezing so we study with blankets and coats on. It’s colder inside the apartment than outside the apartment. So imagine doing all of this and trying to communicate with a native comp. HAHA it’s been tricky. So our first night we went out tracting which was fun. I met Vanessa at our chapel and she’s from Mozambique and looks exactly like Rihanna. She’s adorable and speaks English. On Friday my first full day we had weekly planning. I wanted to cry because my comp kept handing me huge stacks of progress reports and I had no idea what she wanted me to do with them. So I acted like I was doing something and she obviously figured it out. So funny. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We have some awesome people in our ward and it’s a pretty big ward. We had 80 people in church this week. There’s a cute senior couple that speak English and we have a Gospel Principles class in English with two recent converts from Ghana. I love them. Oh and they have RS, then Sunday School and then Sacrament Meeting. At church a man who was completely drunk walked in yelling at people. We were like uhhhhhh that’s new. I cooked a meal for my comp after church, then we went tracting and I had my first meal at a member’s house. It was with two sisters, one speaks English and is 23 and her sister is 19. They have a Brazilian member living with them. They are awesome and can speak a little English. They made a casserole with tuna, pineapple, noodles and cheese. So different and I had to eat the whole thing because if you don´t they will get offended. I loved desert it was rice pudding but they use noodles instead of rice, with cinnamon on top. They call is aletria. It’s a traditional Christmas dish but they like it so they made it for me. I swear the only food here that is the same as home are green olives and diet coke. So great.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We have some awesome investigators. I don’t talk much but they think its endearing that I’m here and trying to learn the language. Lucia is so cute and reads the book of Mormon but is nervous to go to church, Americo is like 70ish and we met with him at the church and had this awesome member present and it was the most intense debate that I could barely understand. We have many others and it is amazing. We were walking down the street and this guy Leonardo, who was so drunk with a cigarette in his mouth yelled to us. Normally I would have kept walking but we stopped and talked to him and he actually listened to us. We told him about our church and how drinking and smoking is very bad for us and Christ wouldn’t want us to do it. We handed him a pamphlet with the picture of Christ on it. He started crying and kissing the picture of Christ and then I started crying and we said do you want to be baptized and he mumbled yes I do. Even though we had no idea what his problems were and even though he was drunk, we knew he was sad and wanted a different life. We got each others numbers and set up an appointment to meet again. When we said goodbye he tried to kiss me on the cheek and Sister Dos Santos was like NOOOONONOOOO! I like the whole kissing on the cheek thing they do here, obviously not with the males but every woman I meet does it. I feel so European or something hahahah.&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Two days ago we wanted to drop by Leonardo’s house so we spent two hours trying to find it and he wasn’t home and wasn’t answering his phone. But we left a note and he called us this morning and we are going to teach him tomorrow. I can’t wait. Yesterday was our pday but we had zone conference so two zones Porto and Porto North got together and President Torgan taught us. We met a bunch of Elders. They speak so fast it’s so hard to understand. I was talking to one of my friends from the MTC, Elder Palmer about my bus pass and Irma Torgan’s mom yelled at us for speaking in English. It was funny because she doesn’t remember that I’m new. So because of our conference yesterday we have our pday today. Sorry I’m out of time. I love you all.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irma Nelson </span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>NEW ADDRESS:</strong> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irma Nelson<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Rua de Aries de Omelas Nº7 2<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Porto 4000-023<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Portugal<u></u><u></u></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Images via google. Just an idea of where she is serving :)]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3GAf9sXP80/T0htiOwaKyI/AAAAAAAAAN8/jOeOeXksV2A/s1600/porto-bridge_1721975c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3GAf9sXP80/T0htiOwaKyI/AAAAAAAAAN8/jOeOeXksV2A/s640/porto-bridge_1721975c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DBqH6WkKs3E/T0htjoiwCPI/AAAAAAAAAOE/c27ZSOtI1Ks/s1600/Porto-portugal-260785_477_318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DBqH6WkKs3E/T0htjoiwCPI/AAAAAAAAAOE/c27ZSOtI1Ks/s640/Porto-portugal-260785_477_318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ByicO-JxKWk/T0htlGo9uHI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ekZFFROSFqY/s1600/Porto-portugal-260783_600_478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ByicO-JxKWk/T0htlGo9uHI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ekZFFROSFqY/s640/Porto-portugal-260783_600_478.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AoZ5OombQ9c/T0htm9YPnTI/AAAAAAAAAOU/qx6C31r8BXY/s1600/porto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AoZ5OombQ9c/T0htm9YPnTI/AAAAAAAAAOU/qx6C31r8BXY/s640/porto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mv4GnsSMLDY/T0htoKbwOpI/AAAAAAAAAOc/znFEkaa7MX4/s1600/portocityportugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mv4GnsSMLDY/T0htoKbwOpI/AAAAAAAAAOc/znFEkaa7MX4/s640/portocityportugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oioZNlj8jAw/T0htrzSxuRI/AAAAAAAAAOk/Dcw5lht1IcE/s1600/porto1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oioZNlj8jAw/T0htrzSxuRI/AAAAAAAAAOk/Dcw5lht1IcE/s640/porto1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-83245112863330894982012-02-15T10:35:00.000-08:002012-02-15T10:35:27.237-08:00Off to PORTUGAL!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvkKmJPzjoE/Tzv5wUkq9RI/AAAAAAAAAM8/2FNh9JNNZXc/s1600/2012-02-15+Sister+Nelson+Feb+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvkKmJPzjoE/Tzv5wUkq9RI/AAAAAAAAAM8/2FNh9JNNZXc/s640/2012-02-15+Sister+Nelson+Feb+2012.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Hello,<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u>&nbsp;<u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I feel like I've been here forever. I'm so ready to leave but it’s so very&nbsp;true how my companion put it, she said that the MTC is like our womb. We're so safe, protected and comfortable here but it’s our time to leave. I have loved every minute here and all the wonderful people I've met and relationships I have made. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week was great. We&nbsp;were so excited to go on our last temple walk yesterday but&nbsp;we were snowed in&nbsp;and&nbsp;weren’t allowed to go.<span>&nbsp; </span>So we took tons of pictures inside with the branch and made it fun.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">We had infield orientation on Friday which was pretty&nbsp;cool. They talked about how we contact, find and how to work with members in our missions.<span>&nbsp; </span>We were able to meet some of the missionaries from “The District", they're like MTC celebrities. It's funny because we've watched video clips from their missions every class&nbsp;for the last two months.<span>&nbsp; </span>We had our departure devotional last night; it was&nbsp;nice so see all the missionaries that are departing. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">At orientation they told us they have a 12 week training program that started in August where all new missionaries have one extra hour of companionship study in the morning.<span>&nbsp; </span>In Portugal we wake up at 7am not 6:30am and go to bed at 11pm instead of 10:30pm because Portuguese people stay out and eat dinner around 8-10 pm.<span>&nbsp; </span>So this should make us more effective as missionaries.<span>&nbsp; </span>Our teacher Brother Mateer was in our same mission (he has been home for about a year).<span>&nbsp; </span>He told us about the food, culture, President Torgan,&nbsp;and different areas in Portugal.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don’t think I've ever been so excited in my life! I'm nervous because when the Portuguese people start talking to me and I will&nbsp;think to myself this is not what I have been learning the last 2 months!<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week what&nbsp;I have really been learning over and over is to stop wanting what&nbsp;I want and want what the Lord wants and to completely subject myself to the will of the Lord. Every time I pray I should pray for help to make His wants, my wants. This Mission is not about me. The more&nbsp;I serve others and completely trust in the Lord He will shape me into the person He wants me to be and help the people He wants me to help. If I&nbsp;do so, then&nbsp;I will feel closer to the Spirit and let it guide me to people who are prepared to accept the Gospel. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday during our fireside&nbsp;I was thinking about all the powerful testimonies&nbsp;I have heard over the years&nbsp;that have stuck with me, especially the testimonies of all the members&nbsp;of my family, my friends, my seminary&nbsp;teachers, my advisors, my church leaders and powerful converts.<span>&nbsp; </span>These testimonies have&nbsp;always&nbsp;resonated with me and helped strengthen my own testimony.<span>&nbsp; </span>Thank you all for your faith. <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">As soon as I get to my new area in Portugal I will email my new address.<span>&nbsp; </span>I'm so excited I can barely stand it. A man from orientation challenged me to make the first contact before my trainer does.<span>&nbsp; </span>I'll probably just run up to some random person and yell OLÁ!....and then not know what to do next. <span>&nbsp;</span>It will be awesome and awkward all at the same time.<span>&nbsp; </span>I can't wait!<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Well&nbsp;I love you all and I'm looking forward to writing you all next week from PORTUGAL! Ah&nbsp;I wonder where&nbsp;my first area will be. I know it will be just what the Lord wants :)&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Have a wonderful week. You're all in my prayers!<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u>&nbsp;<u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">xoxoxo<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irmã Nelson</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KMP-P5muRSY/Tzv6Agq2aUI/AAAAAAAAANM/6SCoWlxh-8A/s1600/CSC0531_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KMP-P5muRSY/Tzv6Agq2aUI/AAAAAAAAANM/6SCoWlxh-8A/s640/CSC0531_0009.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JNrAkIL6PE/Tzv6CpQYbdI/AAAAAAAAANU/85vHUMdr3jw/s1600/CSC0539_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JNrAkIL6PE/Tzv6CpQYbdI/AAAAAAAAANU/85vHUMdr3jw/s640/CSC0539_0020.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IceWl-e5Px8/Tzv6GgKJdAI/AAAAAAAAANc/doh_wCwwau4/s1600/CSC0542_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IceWl-e5Px8/Tzv6GgKJdAI/AAAAAAAAANc/doh_wCwwau4/s640/CSC0542_0023.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kn8PyNg1o9U/Tzv6HiYTiyI/AAAAAAAAANk/nOKA7Uxb178/s1600/CSC0547_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kn8PyNg1o9U/Tzv6HiYTiyI/AAAAAAAAANk/nOKA7Uxb178/s640/CSC0547_0005.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOb12VhQWTs/Tzv6Kdip9PI/AAAAAAAAANs/3VHlNw1NwK0/s1600/DSC0513_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOb12VhQWTs/Tzv6Kdip9PI/AAAAAAAAANs/3VHlNw1NwK0/s640/DSC0513_0026.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdQH1OVsxNc/Tzv6OlCoZCI/AAAAAAAAAN0/6usOpkzETD8/s1600/DSC0524_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdQH1OVsxNc/Tzv6OlCoZCI/AAAAAAAAAN0/6usOpkzETD8/s640/DSC0524_0012.JPG" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-67501030575873718052012-02-08T17:54:00.000-08:002012-02-08T18:13:29.298-08:00Last Week In The MTC!<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; right: auto;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;">OLÁ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This week was so great. I miss all of you very much.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">I&nbsp;would NEVER leave my favorite people in the world behind for this long if it wasn't for something THIS important. This work changes LIVES and in a week I get to witness it first hand in Portugal. It is necessary that every soul hears this message so that all of us as Heavenly Fathers&nbsp;children can return to His presence.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">EPIC story of the week....ELDER NELSON AND ELDER HOLLAND CAME AND SPOKE TO US ON TUESDAY. I almost died. Literally. It was the 50th anniversary of the MTC so many general authorities were here. Since there were many visits only a couple hundred out of 2000 missionaries were allowed in the gym so see them speak and&nbsp;the rest had to go to the over flow and watch from a screen. We didn’t want to wait in the 2 hour line so we just hung out and studied in the basement until the doors opened. So when people started going in they only let like 50 in at a time and for some reason we were way in back and did not think we would get in the room.&nbsp; Then a bunch of elders yelled LET THEESE FOUR SISTERS GO! And I was like huh? And so they parted the crowd and let us be the last missionaries in the room.&nbsp; I said no that’s too nice but we literally got shoved in the door. &nbsp;We were split up but then they decided to bring in a couple more to fill the floor so my companions and I booked it to the floor and found seats together that were 15 feet away from the apostles. Irma Walton and I were squeezing each other for a good 15 minutes. Elder Holland bore a very powerful testimony about our obligation as missionaries to honor those who came before us. And Elder Nelson spoke on the history of missionary work and the MTC.&nbsp; He then rededicated five buildings on campus. I think this was the first time I had ever heard an apostle pray. It was amazing and very beautiful to hear. Definitely one of the highlights of my stay here. </span></span><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Well, my health is good, the language is coming along, and I'm ready to leave for Portugal. I'm nervous but ready. &nbsp;Nine weeks is a long time but I've needed it. Our branch President said they are starting a pilot program here where they delay all the missionaries three weeks that are scheduled to be coming in this week and are only keeping them here for six weeks. They want to see if six weeks would be better than nine. &nbsp;They think by six weeks you can't speak well but you can communicate. I'm really curious to see how that works out. </span></span><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Well I love you all with all of my heart. This Gospel is so true and perfect and I'm so honored&nbsp;for this privilege to serve. Our branch Presidents wife made the sisters of our branch this book mark and I’m obsessed with it! It says..</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">"Many young women are serving missions. Many are preparing to serve. Not because they aren't married or have nothing else to do; but because they have a desire to serve and therefore are being called to the work. The reason so many are going is because in the next generation, Heavenly Father&nbsp; will be sending His Priesthood Army to the earth and wants to send them to Mothers who have been properly trained and taught in the Gospel. What better training can a young woman have than that of&nbsp;serving a mission?" </span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">-Gordon B. Hinckley, Brazil Maceio&nbsp;Mission, 2000. </span></span><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">This is what it's all about. If any sister is reading this and is considering to serve please pray and seek confirmation from the Lord to serve a mission. I've only been here eight weeks but it has been the most rewarding and satisfying experience thus far in my life. I'm in love with the Gospel and women are such powerful missionaries. </span></span><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for your wonderful examples and prayers. I love each of you individually. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">xoxo,</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background: silver; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Irmã Nelson</span></span><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-djb3AWlw16s/TzMpL4FlaMI/AAAAAAAAAMs/N-abltSb9M8/s1600/DSC0379_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-djb3AWlw16s/TzMpL4FlaMI/AAAAAAAAAMs/N-abltSb9M8/s640/DSC0379_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQ-xYJu9NqY/TzMpwl0m8TI/AAAAAAAAAM0/bEJ7GMwOw5Y/s1600/CSC0425_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQ-xYJu9NqY/TzMpwl0m8TI/AAAAAAAAAM0/bEJ7GMwOw5Y/s640/CSC0425_0043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-la1uKX2puKU/TzMm0_JwAhI/AAAAAAAAAMc/xwIQAl8hztA/s1600/DSC0166_0081-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-la1uKX2puKU/TzMm0_JwAhI/AAAAAAAAAMc/xwIQAl8hztA/s640/DSC0166_0081-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-18284497701537319352012-02-01T21:07:00.000-08:002012-02-01T21:07:14.506-08:00Happy Monday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CY7H1-agp4M/TyoZasx-3cI/AAAAAAAAALc/Kxiw301cv3s/s1600/DSC0463_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CY7H1-agp4M/TyoZasx-3cI/AAAAAAAAALc/Kxiw301cv3s/s640/DSC0463_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cm6SktxzkbE/TyoZen5hFCI/AAAAAAAAALk/qBEnjSvj63M/s1600/DSC0381_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cm6SktxzkbE/TyoZen5hFCI/AAAAAAAAALk/qBEnjSvj63M/s640/DSC0381_0007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OgRO3X1JVeQ/TyoZlEG0TeI/AAAAAAAAALs/PfxkVkhWvb0/s1600/DSC0440_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OgRO3X1JVeQ/TyoZlEG0TeI/AAAAAAAAALs/PfxkVkhWvb0/s640/DSC0440_0035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R83GoP-S7Yw/TyoZnKkzk2I/AAAAAAAAAL0/GbgzQ3JKnAY/s1600/DSC0459_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R83GoP-S7Yw/TyoZnKkzk2I/AAAAAAAAAL0/GbgzQ3JKnAY/s640/DSC0459_0012.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8q4-Xd7d8WE/TyoZqUUDGHI/AAAAAAAAAL8/O5t1YS-huTw/s1600/DSC0471_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8q4-Xd7d8WE/TyoZqUUDGHI/AAAAAAAAAL8/O5t1YS-huTw/s640/DSC0471_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi6Z2d1QWBs/TyoZsIN6N9I/AAAAAAAAAME/9Kfva9njXT8/s1600/DSC0466_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi6Z2d1QWBs/TyoZsIN6N9I/AAAAAAAAAME/9Kfva9njXT8/s640/DSC0466_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />HAPPY MONDAY!!!<br /><br />Almost two weeks left! I seriously feel like I’ve been here forever. I’m actually really, really nervous for Portugal. The language is very intimidating, but I know Heavenly Father takes care of His missionaries but I'm so stoked at the same time. <br /><br />I can't believe Jami is almost home. You have no idea how much I missed that girl. She means so much to me and her choosing to serve a full time mission has influenced me. I know she will have the most vibrant glow about her and the most powerful testimony. Tiffani sent me her blog post last week about the Savior. I was in tears I felt the spirit so strongly. I know she changed so many lives in Cordoba.<br /><br />I ran into Jenny and Meags at the Temple yesterday (I died I was so happy)!&nbsp; By the way thank you for the bag of goodies. The letters from the party crew were hilarious!&nbsp; It looks like a bunch of nursery kids drew them for me. SO FUNNY.<br /><br />This week I hosted new missionaries (I also host for the next 2 weeks).&nbsp; It was super fun!&nbsp; It was hard seeing them say goodbye to their families and awkwardly trying to change the subject and act like they didn't just leave their family and friends behind for 18 months.&nbsp; I think I did okay. I saw Sister Whitney Wilde, the cute one that worked at Nordstrom in Orem who is going to my mission but I’m a different Portuguese branch. She is so adorable.&nbsp; I love her. Also our Stake President’s son Tyler Clason came this week.&nbsp; I see him quite often, he is a sweet Elder.&nbsp; Elder David Livingston (a friend of Ramsey Carroll from Newport) came this week as well.&nbsp; He is heading to Honduras but will spend 3 weeks here and 6 weeks in the Guatemala MTC.&nbsp; Speaking of Ramsey, Rique is on the exercise and wellness slideshow for new sisters in her exercise clothes. I was like, I know her!!!<br /><br />I got amazing letters/emails from Sara Little, Sheree, Lexee, Kristin, President Gilbert and Ray this week. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!<br /><br />I know this church is true. I know it from the bottom of my heart. I know the Spirit works through us when we want to help others. I am forever indebted to my Savior for His infinite Atonement. I love Him with all of my heart. I love this work and I can’t wait to teach the people of Portugal!&nbsp; <br /><br />Irmã NelsonSister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-18541472712877528212012-01-25T18:05:00.000-08:002012-01-25T18:05:03.223-08:00My Joy Is FullHELLO!!!<br /><br />Greetings from the good ole' MTC. The days and months go by slow but the weeks fly by. I still don't understand how that works but it does. The language is going well.&nbsp; The things I struggle with the most are tenses, reading the scriptures in Portuguese and just straight up trying to understand when people talk to me really fast. I speak it just fine :) But I'm not worried! I improve every week and continue to feel the Spirit every lesson. Speaking of the Spirit, yesterday the General Primary President came to speak to us in Relief Society. She was amazing. She showed a video clip that you may have seen.&nbsp; It is called "My Joy Is Full".&nbsp; It’s just a short video of Christ visiting the people and letting them touch His wounds. I literally cried through the entire thing. The video was so powerful (please watch it) and so was her talk. We were able meet her afterwards and I seriously hugged her for an entire minute.&nbsp; It was the closest I felt to hugging my mama and I lost it.<br /><br />Thank you so much for you letters and emails.&nbsp; I love you all.&nbsp; The Gospel is true.<br /><br />EU AMO VOCÊS! <br /><br />xoxo,<br />Irmã Nelson<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DRC0GoDJmPc" width="640"></iframe>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-21870305073850627892012-01-22T12:42:00.000-08:002012-01-22T12:43:48.939-08:00..things are done in wisdom and order<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BWoBXdjExV4/Txx0SCq15MI/AAAAAAAAALM/Jnb9OSQem54/s1600/CSC0345_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BWoBXdjExV4/Txx0SCq15MI/AAAAAAAAALM/Jnb9OSQem54/s640/CSC0345_0056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"There may be times when we feel overwhelmed, hurt, or on the edge of discouragement as we are trying so hard to be perfect members of the Church. Be assured, there is balm in Gilead. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Let us listen to the prophets of our day as they help us to focus on the things that are central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. The Lord knows us, He loves us, He wants us to succeed, and He encourages us by saying: “And see that all … things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that men or women should run faster than they have strength."</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;--Dieter F. Uchtdorf</div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-44777218465100437852012-01-18T17:30:00.000-08:002012-01-18T17:30:09.042-08:00One Month DownHELLO!<br /><br />How is everyone? <br /><br />Can you believe it's been a month? I miss everyone so much! This week went by so fast. The language is coming along and my knowledge of the gospel is improving. It's crazy when you're here for nine weeks all the Elders and Sisters that come and go and we still have so much time left in the MTC. In some ways I feel like I've been here FOREVER but with my small knowledge of Portuguese I feel like I've been here for only a short time. I seriously can't tell you how much all the mail I receive means to me. All of you're testimonies strengthen mine!<br /><br />We got our new teacher last week, Brother Mateer who is from Scotland and served with Mac Cobb. He's a great teacher and takes the Gospel very seriously which is exactly what we want in an instructor. My other teacher which we've had since day one is also amazing. She served her mission in Brazil so her accent is a little different but we learn just fine.<br /><br />Our district continues to get closer everyday and we had a little party on Saturday with all the stuff mom sent. My roommates were so thankful for the cards and lotion. I ran into Emily at the temple yesterday and I about died. She is such a loving friend and she brought me some diet coke! It was so nice to see her and take some cute pictures. <br /><br />I'm still obsessed with my companion. We get along so well and quote movies and YouTube all day. She's so amazing in lessons and is so good at the language. One thing I've learned in a discussion is it doesn't matter as much if you are fluent or not, but if you invite the Spirit and truly show love to your investigators by testifying this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and our purpose in life is to return to Our Heavenly Father, they will feel the Spirit and that's why they continue to invite you back. They may not understand half of the things you said but they felt the powerful feeling of the Holy Ghost testifying our message is true. <br /><br />I'm so thankful for this opportunity to be here. I thank my Heavenly Father over and over for all His blessings and for calling me to serve. I can't wait for Portugal. I can't wait to meet and fall in love with the people. We are ALL God's children and deserve to have this Gospel. And I'm lucky enough to bring it to them. I'm continuing to fall in love with the scriptures and I know without a doubt that they are the word of God. I love all of you so much. <br />You are all in my prayers. Keep the Faith :) <br />xoxo<br />Irmã Nelson<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zni_0Oup18M/Txdw4Kj_OMI/AAAAAAAAAKU/hmIdijvoy8U/s1600/CSC0342_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zni_0Oup18M/Txdw4Kj_OMI/AAAAAAAAAKU/hmIdijvoy8U/s640/CSC0342_0040.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmo-z-Zyoww/Txdw4UXruvI/AAAAAAAAAKg/KduBJ3wP3J8/s1600/CSC0343_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmo-z-Zyoww/Txdw4UXruvI/AAAAAAAAAKg/KduBJ3wP3J8/s640/CSC0343_0054.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dufuTgTZbng/Txdw5S8CuFI/AAAAAAAAAKs/tNUtwmRONzE/s1600/CSC0348_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dufuTgTZbng/Txdw5S8CuFI/AAAAAAAAAKs/tNUtwmRONzE/s640/CSC0348_0063.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uTaV29uCi8/Txdw50SMNaI/AAAAAAAAAK8/v8LVMdZgRF0/s1600/CSC0354_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uTaV29uCi8/Txdw50SMNaI/AAAAAAAAAK8/v8LVMdZgRF0/s640/CSC0354_0101.jpg" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-1670167353696323262012-01-10T20:33:00.000-08:002012-01-10T20:33:10.569-08:00I am trying to be like Jesus.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kQVKJnZbAwk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-67915444301439240182012-01-10T20:02:00.000-08:002012-01-10T20:02:29.153-08:00WeeK Four<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dCRHhq5PoNs/Tw0I52zSy4I/AAAAAAAAAKI/UaJHwCj_BEU/s1600/DSC_0097_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dCRHhq5PoNs/Tw0I52zSy4I/AAAAAAAAAKI/UaJHwCj_BEU/s320/DSC_0097_0073.jpg" /></a></div>HELLOOOOOOO!&nbsp; <br /><br />What's up outside world?&nbsp; I miss everyone so much! This week was good, it flew by SO fast!&nbsp; I can't believe I'm almost to my half way mark.&nbsp; On Saturday I will only have one month left in the MTC!&nbsp; I'm kind of in mourning though; half of our branch left and I was very close to many of the missionaries in the branch.&nbsp; Big Nick (Elder Hopkins) left for Montana and John Sheen leaves for Oregon TOMORROW!&nbsp;&nbsp; My friend Tysen arrived at the MTC this week so that makes me happy.<br /><br />The Provo Temple finally opened so we were able to go this morning at 6:30am.&nbsp; It was so great.&nbsp; I've missed the temple so much. It definitely made my entire week. I'm bummed because everyone talks about how good the food is in the Temple cafeteria but it’s closed on Mondays which is our p-day.&nbsp;Our district gets very excited to have our Temple walk on Sunday because we are able to leave the MTC grounds.<br /><br />UMMMMMM you can totally tell that we've been here too long. Our humor has gone way down hill and my district and I think the most ridiculous things are now funny and entertaining.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />My companion still rocks. She said this is the longest she has ever been around someone and she still likes me. :) <br />I'm getting better with the language.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some nights it's discouraging when you think you should know more by now than you do, especially when someone speaks in Portuguese who is really good and you're like uhhhhh, what the heck did you say? I ONLY UNDERSTAND BROKEN AMERICAN TRYING TO SPEAK PORTUGUESE-PORTUGUESE!&nbsp; I'm sure it will come so I'm not too worried. <br /><br />On a more spiritual side, this week we were constantly being taught about receiving revelation through prayer.&nbsp; It is so true!&nbsp; If you pray for inspiration for your investigators and their needs you really do receive answers!!!&nbsp; I love it.&nbsp; It makes missionary work worth it.&nbsp; We usually teach different investigators 2-3 times a day and my favorite topic to teach is the gift of the Holy Ghost.&nbsp; I love inviting the Spirit into our lessons and helping them feel our Savior's love.<br /><br />I have become obsessed with scripture study.&nbsp; It's become my favorite part of the day.&nbsp; I am in Alma chapter six and I'm loving it.&nbsp; I seriously have such a testimony of the scriptures and of their truth. I LOVE IT! I received a letter from little Jenn today (serving in the Paris mission).&nbsp; She seriously is one of the strongest Sisters I've ever met.&nbsp; She is so spiritual and has an amazing testimony that makes my testimony stronger.&nbsp; <br /><br />Thank you everyone for your sweet letters. It means so much to know that you are thinking of me.&nbsp; I pray for all of you so many times a day.&nbsp; You are all amazing and inspire me to be a better missionary. It really is true about missionary work and obedience; if you obey with exactness you will experience wonderful blessings.<br /><br />&nbsp;LOVE YOU ALL!&nbsp; Please send me pictures when you get a chance and it you want to write please do it through dearelder.com so I have time to read them. <br /><br />xoxo<br />Irma Nelson <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxU-RdcPC7A/Tw0GSt4H2-I/AAAAAAAAAI0/lEhVTpZT52A/s1600/DSC_0070_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxU-RdcPC7A/Tw0GSt4H2-I/AAAAAAAAAI0/lEhVTpZT52A/s640/DSC_0070_0052.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgP7xGoXpyw/Tw0GT6-6cwI/AAAAAAAAAJM/v6PbiVOdXmA/s1600/DSC_0084_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgP7xGoXpyw/Tw0GT6-6cwI/AAAAAAAAAJM/v6PbiVOdXmA/s640/DSC_0084_0061.jpg" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-73441861152707122112012-01-03T21:11:00.000-08:002012-01-03T21:26:13.406-08:00Happy New Year!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah! It's so crazy to think that I've already been here 3 weeks! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">HOW IS EVERYONE?! WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?! FILL ME IN PEOPLE!</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This week was good the Portuguese is getting easier. We have taught a ton of lessons and things are starting to make a lot more sense. The devotionals and firesides are so good and they always address the exact things I need to hear that day. It always relates back to our purpose as missionaries. I keep meeting people that have served in Portugal and I hear the BEST things about it and President Torgan. :)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our branch is made up of mostly Portugal missionaries and some Brazilian missionaries who don't have their visas. But 21 of them are all leaving tomorrow from my banch. It's so funny we have this thing that started with my favorite sister missionary. She's tiny and from Ecuador and she curls her eyelashes with a spoon. The Elders were giving her a hard time so it turned into this thing where you sneak spoons into people's pockets, coats and purses without people knowing. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We get our new teacher tomorrow! We've only had Brazilian Portuguese speaking teachers and this will be our first continental (Portugal) Portuguese speaking teacher so they will actually speak the dialect we need to learn! I can’t wait.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well sorry I don’t have much time and I don't have much to report other than I'm doing great, my companion is sweet, I'm in good health and my hedgehog is happy. I love how strong the Spirit is here and I continue to grow closer to my Heavenly Father. Thank you all for your love. It means so much to me when you write. Send me some pictures! I MISS YOU ALL SO MUCH!</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Have an amazing new year!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">xoxo</div><div style="text-align: center;">Irma Nelson :):):):)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeQqKklPz8k/TwPdYpPM4KI/AAAAAAAAAG8/NxFiVVGMOuI/s1600/DSC_0045_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeQqKklPz8k/TwPdYpPM4KI/AAAAAAAAAG8/NxFiVVGMOuI/s640/DSC_0045_0029.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KaS19DZ_Rs/TwPdZOZWPpI/AAAAAAAAAHI/uxx1ZMBsD-M/s1600/DSC_0075_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KaS19DZ_Rs/TwPdZOZWPpI/AAAAAAAAAHI/uxx1ZMBsD-M/s640/DSC_0075_0057.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNTCftw1fPs/TwPd5EMbW3I/AAAAAAAAAHU/aBI3pbDu9lk/s1600/DSC_0069_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNTCftw1fPs/TwPd5EMbW3I/AAAAAAAAAHU/aBI3pbDu9lk/s640/DSC_0069_0051.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3r_08zxcb4I/TwPd5l7D-LI/AAAAAAAAAHg/p_V_iAghIv8/s1600/DSC_0049_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3r_08zxcb4I/TwPd5l7D-LI/AAAAAAAAAHg/p_V_iAghIv8/s640/DSC_0049_0032.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98xv311V3Dc/TwPd6sFZimI/AAAAAAAAAHs/U6Z0euDLp6Q/s1600/DSC_0090_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98xv311V3Dc/TwPd6sFZimI/AAAAAAAAAHs/U6Z0euDLp6Q/s640/DSC_0090_0067.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3DeSXhZOL0/TwPdXzKAmuI/AAAAAAAAAGw/e-XIbBoknIg/s1600/DSC_0039_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3DeSXhZOL0/TwPdXzKAmuI/AAAAAAAAAGw/e-XIbBoknIg/s640/DSC_0039_0026.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_ICkUo04hE/TwPfDKEpyoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/_vG9Ul2-NHo/s1600/DSC_0066_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_ICkUo04hE/TwPfDKEpyoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/_vG9Ul2-NHo/s640/DSC_0066_0048.jpg" /></a></div></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-48558932619120741142012-01-03T20:56:00.000-08:002012-01-03T23:12:24.873-08:00Merry Christmas from the MTC!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bM3Uw5flTyM/TwPZ52ivPdI/AAAAAAAAAGk/E-lB_Ys2eDw/s1600/DSC_0105_0081-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bM3Uw5flTyM/TwPZ52ivPdI/AAAAAAAAAGk/E-lB_Ys2eDw/s640/DSC_0105_0081-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!<br />AHHHH I’M SO HAPPY TO EMAIL!<br />I don’t get to call home, there’s too many missionaries and not enough phones so don't wait around! today was so great i miss all of you so bad especially today but i have to be perfectly honest today might have to be one of the most memorable Christmas’s I’ve ever had. mostly because I’m not with you guys. (here I’m not allowed to say "guys" because we are all either elders of sisters) BUT YOU ARENT! so i can say guys guys guys ALL I WANT! HEEEEEEEEEEHE! guys. <br />ok well today was amazing we woke up and opened presents which was fun because we had a little charlie brown tree that is seriously 2 inches tall and we all gathered around it and opened our gifts. thank you mama for all the nice presents! Oh, and last night my district and i sat in a circle and went around and took turns reading the Polar Express (they got really into it) it made me feel a little piece of home and they all loved the bells, and Christmas hats and the twinkling Christmas tree. it was so funny, we plugged in the tree and one of the elders in my district got a string of Christmas lights and so with all of that up while we went in our classroom we would find random people just sitting in our room with the lights off looking all the twinkle lights and we'd come in like ummm can we help you and they’re like oh sorry is this your room? its just so pretty and festive. i just got my pictures developed of the day i reported of all of us and i about died. i love you all so much. okay this email is going to be all over the place I’m sorry but i have limited time so I’m just spewing out thoughts. <br />This morning Elder Bednar came to out sacrament meeting!!!! it was so cool he's such a powerful speaker. he talked about the "character of Christ" and i remember hearing him speaking on this topic before but it was so spiritual today that i was in tears with my companion at the end. before he closed he was telling us about selecting where the missionaries get to go on out missions and he was like you all aren’t just in this big stack in an office with someone pointing to a map and deciding where you will serve. he said they all sit down and carefully pray about each individual missionary and where they will go. it made me feel so special. i know this next year and a half are NOT about me, i am NOT serving for myself, I’m not learning Portuguese for my selfish benefit. i am solely here for the Lord. I’m learning Portuguese to bring HIS children unto Christ. because we ALL deserve this gospel. i don’t dress up anymore for myself; i don't put on makeup for myself anymore. i put it on because i am a representative of Jesus Christ and that’s what is most important. EVERYTHING we do as missionaries relates back to our purpose. to invite others to come unto Him. i was meeting with my teacher in guided study one night and she was just asking how everything was going and i said I’m tired, a little overwhelmed and a little discouraged and she said i know it’s hard I’ve been there. She asked me what helps you keep going? and i said the letters from my family and friends that encourage me to keep pressing forward. i need to stop thinking oh poor me, and like Bednar said to show 'character of Christ’. In moments where we would all turn inward (become selfish, self centered), Christ turns outward (love charity etc).<br />Irmã Nelson<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sD1WOB7F7u0/TvWjPpUMSLI/AAAAAAAAABA/vmyeKIr6_vI/s4000/Holiday+Season+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sD1WOB7F7u0/TvWjPpUMSLI/AAAAAAAAABA/vmyeKIr6_vI/s640/Holiday+Season+2011.jpg" /></a></div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251005530329536039.post-85273841090034786372012-01-03T20:22:00.000-08:002012-01-03T23:37:18.689-08:00Called to Serve<div style="text-align: center;">On August 5th, 2011&nbsp;family and friends gathered around Whitney both in person and via webcam,&nbsp;anxiously&nbsp;waiting to find out where she&nbsp;had been&nbsp;called to serve&nbsp;a full-time,&nbsp;eighteen-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon opening her call, we were all&nbsp;overjoyed to find out that&nbsp;she was called to serve in the Portugal Lisbon Mission! Whitney was overwhelmed with excitement after learning of her new and challenging&nbsp;assignment. She immediately began looking forward to the day that she was to report to the Provo Mission Training Center on December 14, 2011, officially beginning her service. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5UMXK41nDM/TwPWbg-sX4I/AAAAAAAAAGY/P81YBhqp_uI/s1600/2011-12-03%2Biphone%2Bnov%2B2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5UMXK41nDM/TwPWbg-sX4I/AAAAAAAAAGY/P81YBhqp_uI/s640/2011-12-03%2Biphone%2Bnov%2B2011.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ALsorHyohbA/TwPQIApRVdI/AAAAAAAAAF0/bD__6SIah1c/s1600/whits%2Bcall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-39ZpNeV1Q_I/TvWlxTWvYKI/AAAAAAAAACI/ZyZZuDY-Ltc/s1600/Hawaii+November+2011+242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-39ZpNeV1Q_I/TvWlxTWvYKI/AAAAAAAAACI/ZyZZuDY-Ltc/s640/Hawaii+November+2011+242.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It just wouldn't be right if Whitney&nbsp;left without saying bye to her Provo crew. Lots of hand shakes, tender words and funny memories were shared as she made her grand exit waving the Portugal flag.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iYt_SNXkx9s/TvWjX8FlZyI/AAAAAAAAABI/-9RzH4x7wKY/s1600/Utah+December+2011+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iYt_SNXkx9s/TvWjX8FlZyI/AAAAAAAAABI/-9RzH4x7wKY/s640/Utah+December+2011+121.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tGUBPlQeG8/TvWjh4d5C9I/AAAAAAAAABQ/gviWvfo_l70/s1600/Utah+December+2011+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tGUBPlQeG8/TvWjh4d5C9I/AAAAAAAAABQ/gviWvfo_l70/s640/Utah+December+2011+128.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9yBD-G1tCLU/TvWnCD8F81I/AAAAAAAAADA/Ossh8orPgys/s1600/Holiday+Season+20112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9yBD-G1tCLU/TvWnCD8F81I/AAAAAAAAADA/Ossh8orPgys/s640/Holiday+Season+20112.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0-79bVdhJM/TvWkoQRvdrI/AAAAAAAAACA/dhfUoejxRpI/s1600/Utah+December+2011+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0-79bVdhJM/TvWkoQRvdrI/AAAAAAAAACA/dhfUoejxRpI/s640/Utah+December+2011+139.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then on December 14th, Sister Nelson began the best journey of her life. After having two Polynesian missionaries carry her bags (not a bad way to start the day!), friends running through the MTC grounds&nbsp;to say goodbye and quick and sincere hugs, she was on her way...&nbsp;and she was beaming with joy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-usOvHaLDbz0/TvWkIuc30wI/AAAAAAAAABo/cO1fC0oEiE0/s1600/Utah+December+2011+184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-usOvHaLDbz0/TvWkIuc30wI/AAAAAAAAABo/cO1fC0oEiE0/s640/Utah+December+2011+184.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yyg62bhlYg/TvWjxgUUI3I/AAAAAAAAABY/qGKBHu-BbDY/s1600/Utah+December+2011+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yyg62bhlYg/TvWjxgUUI3I/AAAAAAAAABY/qGKBHu-BbDY/s640/Utah+December+2011+172.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2Idl26kjeg/TvWl5FxFnXI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TvzRr-s2E3U/s1600/Utah+December+2011+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2Idl26kjeg/TvWl5FxFnXI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TvzRr-s2E3U/s640/Utah+December+2011+194.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KrhEbtG6YO0/TvWmE0MdxaI/AAAAAAAAACY/DjuumH2tR6s/s1600/Utah+December+2011+196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KrhEbtG6YO0/TvWmE0MdxaI/AAAAAAAAACY/DjuumH2tR6s/s640/Utah+December+2011+196.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJYkK3-GhcQ/TvWmcjtC1-I/AAAAAAAAACg/U4GxL76TKoU/s1600/Utah+December+2011+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJYkK3-GhcQ/TvWmcjtC1-I/AAAAAAAAACg/U4GxL76TKoU/s640/Utah+December+2011+237.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tolh7rjJ018/TvWmn-Ve2iI/AAAAAAAAACo/e9obkihzLE4/s1600/Utah+December+2011+243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tolh7rjJ018/TvWmn-Ve2iI/AAAAAAAAACo/e9obkihzLE4/s640/Utah+December+2011+243.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dbo76C6RxnU/TvWm8G4QPXI/AAAAAAAAAC4/krf_pqYGwSQ/s1600/Holiday+Season+20111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dbo76C6RxnU/TvWm8G4QPXI/AAAAAAAAAC4/krf_pqYGwSQ/s640/Holiday+Season+20111.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5SVu-C2CYY/TvWnKe22lcI/AAAAAAAAADI/l5R138A0Zgo/s1600/Holiday+Season+20113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5SVu-C2CYY/TvWnKe22lcI/AAAAAAAAADI/l5R138A0Zgo/s640/Holiday+Season+20113.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyhvHtSGvcM/TvWkSK1cMII/AAAAAAAAABw/7_WUQPG5BfI/s1600/Utah+December+2011+219-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyhvHtSGvcM/TvWkSK1cMII/AAAAAAAAABw/7_WUQPG5BfI/s640/Utah+December+2011+219-2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWD8Ext5bLk/TvWkfCLMZWI/AAAAAAAAAB4/TSAJcU3qrV8/s1600/Utah+December+2011+260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWD8Ext5bLk/TvWkfCLMZWI/AAAAAAAAAB4/TSAJcU3qrV8/s640/Utah+December+2011+260.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Leaving behind her beloved family and friends, she is now devoting all of her time, talents, efforts, and whole heart into serving Jesus Christ and the people of Portugal. </div>Sister Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632033558203497602noreply@blogger.com0